PARANG, Maguindanao del Norte, Philippines — Police, together with agents from the Bureau of Customs (BOC), on Tuesday uncovered a large cache of smuggled cigarettes buried in a vacant agricultural lot in Barangay Gumagadong Calawag here, authorities said.
Acting on a tip from vigilant villagers and local officials, law enforcement teams excavated around 2,004 boxes of imported cigarettes, estimating their **market value at about ₱44 million. The brands are believed to be Indonesian‑made and lacked proper customs documentation, making their importation and sale illegal under Philippine law.
Police Regional Office‑Bangsamoro Autonomous Region officials said the contraband will be turned over to the BOC for custody and disposal in accordance with government rules and regulations. Local executives and traditional leaders are helping authorities identify the owners of the seized cigarettes as part of ongoing efforts to hold those responsible accountable.
The operation is the latest in a series of anti‑smuggling efforts across the country, as law enforcement agencies continue to combat the illegal tobacco trade—which deprives the government of revenue and undermines public health safeguards.